Attorney updates board on desegregation case; board accepts counsel recommendation on Sharon Walker map

Outside counsel gave the Tangipahoa Parish School Board an update March 18 on the district’s federally supervised desegregation work and recent court activity, and the board later voted to accept counsel’s recommendation regarding the Sharon Walker map.

Indigo Kate Beekman, counsel for the district, briefed the board in executive session on compliance developments since her prior report in December. Beekman said the court compliance officer issued a nearly all-positive annual report, citing Tangipahoa’s ability to recruit and retain effective certified teachers and a rise in state accountability measures tied to teacher deployment. She also reported the court has approved several facility projects in recent months, including electrical work at a west-side facility, a kitchen conversion at D.C. Reeves from gas to electric, and a boiler replacement for Ponchatoula High School.

Beekman said the district filed a motion seeking unitary status in the areas of student assignment and employment practices; mediations ordered by the court have been ongoing and the parties are preparing for an evidentiary hearing set for May 14. She asked the board for questions and emphasized she could not discuss mediation strategy in public.

After returning from executive session, the board called the public meeting back to order and the board president asked for a motion to accept counsel’s recommendation concerning the Sharon Walker map. A board member moved; the motion was seconded by Mr. Anthony and the board carried the motion without objection.

The board did not provide details of the recommendation during open session and did not discuss substantive mediation strategy on the record. Counsel’s update in executive session, the board’s acceptance of the recommendation and the scheduled evidentiary hearing were the primary developments recorded.